Shouldn't they want the ROTC members in there? I mean, they are military trained and have passed a basic background check. And I would bet good money on the whole squad tackling a would be terrorist if it was apparent that they were a danger to others.

• No backpacks, or handbags of any size• No glass containers, and no container larger than 1 liter.• no bulky costumes or masks that cover the face, and no proprs.• no strollers.• no suitcases & rolling bags.• no CamelBak-style hydration systems.• no weight vests or any sort of vest with pockets, except lightweight running vests.• no signs or flags larger than 11 inches by 17 inches.

Strollers are banned. What about wheelchairs? I saw a television program where someone hid a bomb on a wheelchair. Why aren't those banned? Are the liberties decided by the ADA more important than our safety? Who made that decision but decided to ban vests with pockets?

And why can't I find any reference to firearms being banned? How are those less dangerous than "glass containers larger than one liter?" Google is giving me nothing on guns being banned.

GungFu:• No backpacks, or handbags of any size• No glass containers, and no container larger than 1 liter.• no bulky costumes or masks that cover the face, and no proprs.• no strollers.• no suitcases & rolling bags.• no CamelBak-style hydration systems.• no weight vests or any sort of vest with pockets, except lightweight running vests.• no signs or flags larger than 11 inches by 17 inches.

The restrictions for official participants include:• No backpacks, or handbags of any size• No glass containers, and no container larger than 1 liter.• no bulky costumes or masks that cover the face, and no proprs.• no strollers.• no suitcases & rolling bags.• no CamelBak-style hydration systems.• no weight vests or any sort of vest with pockets, except lightweight running vests.• no signs or flags larger than 11 inches by 17 inches.

The restrictions for official participants include:• No backpacks, or handbags of any size• No glass containers, and no container larger than 1 liter.• no bulky costumes or masks that cover the face, and no proprs.• no strollers.• no suitcases & rolling bags.• no CamelBak-style hydration systems.• no weight vests or any sort of vest with pockets, except lightweight running vests.• no signs or flags larger than 11 inches by 17 inches.

Weren't the bombers from last year spectators and not runners?

Shhh! Why do you have to keep coming into my fark threads and using logic?

The terrorists won when the police and Homeland Security shut down the city, flooded it with armored vehicles and SWAT, and went door to door looking for a twerpy little shiat who was eventually found bleeding out in an immobile boat. And with all that near-military presence, it was the boat owner who found the terrorist, the authorities thought he'd escaped.

In all seriousness, what does it say that the city of Boston, arguably the birthplace of American independence, the site of so many acts of defiance against oppression and terror, is now being a bunch of complete cowards and banning shiat that had nothing to do with the bombings last year?

It says that America has become a nation of complete pansies who have forgotten the heritage that said it's better to be free even when that freedom comes with risks.

The most pathetic part is that these measures don't do anything to actually prevent any attack.

The article states that the restrictions are on participants. Weren't the bombers among the spectators?

My sister and brother in law were there last year, thankfully my brother in law (my sister does not run) had crossed the finish line before the explosions and they were both far enough that they were out of sight of the explosions. They're going back this year and I kind of wish they didn't but that is selfish on my part.

Are they also going to ban shady private security companies like Craft International, who stand around with dark baseball caps and backpacks, and seem to do little or nothing before or after the bomb goes off?

I frequently see stuff like this quoted by people whose actual opinions about real world scenarios would seem to indicate that they think "freedom" is a synonym for "overbearing security and surveillance."

Underwater Bystander:Strollers are banned. What about wheelchairs? I saw a television program where someone hid a bomb on a wheelchair. Why aren't those banned? Are the liberties decided by the ADA more important than our safety? Who made that decision but decided to ban vests with pockets?

And why can't I find any reference to firearms being banned? How are those less dangerous than "glass containers larger than one liter?" Google is giving me nothing on guns being banned.

Molotov Cocktails and the general danger of thrown glass bottles in a crowd. Any container larger than a liter is banned, presumably from the risk of the 2-liter bottle dry ice bombs. Although a liter sized one going off would probably work just as well at disrupting the race and making Boston waste millions of dollars.

talkertopc:The article states that the restrictions are on participants. Weren't the bombers among the spectators?

My sister and brother in law were there last year, thankfully my brother in law (my sister does not run) had crossed the finish line before the explosions and they were both far enough that they were out of sight of the explosions. They're going back this year and I kind of wish they didn't but that is selfish on my part.

My parents were just a few blocks away when the bombs went off. I'd feel more comfortable if they stayed home this year. The most terrifying hours of my life were when I couldnt get in touch with them after the explosions last year

I frequently see stuff like this quoted by people whose actual opinions about real world scenarios would seem to indicate that they think "freedom" is a synonym for "overbearing security and surveillance."

Qualifying for Boston is a great accomplishment. Bandits are a-holes who steal from those who qualified and jumped through the hoops to legitimately register.

/hates bandits//will never get my BQ, but I'm ok w/that.

I just wish my ankles would last past the last 2 miles a marathon. I ran one in track in high school and was keeping a time that was good until then. Keeping up with the slower of the runners on the team and smoking the other weight throwers was a good feeling while it lasted.

\wasted on cross-country\\very dangerous over short distances...like 10 yards